New Delhi: To provide greater protection to
Jarawa tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, government has
initiated various measures including appointment of a nodal
officer to check movement of vehicles and a new law to ban
videography in tribal areas.

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State
for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said that an officer
has been designated as Nodal officer in-charge to monitor all
activities on a day-to-day basis on the Andaman Trunk Road
passing through the Jarawa Reserve.

Besides, provisions to book for photography/videography
in the tribal reserve has been included in the proposed
amendment to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of
Aboriginal Tribes) Regulations, 1956, he said.

The Minister said the number of convoys have been reduced
from 8 to 4 on each side on the Andaman Trunk Road which
passes through Jarawa Reserve and notice has been issued to
the general public and tour operators that immediate action
will be taken against violators.

"The staff of Tribal Welfare Department and Andaman Adim
Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) posted in the Jarawa Tribal
Reserve has been asked to be extra cautious and keep vigil on
the convoys passing through the Jarawa Reserve. Police has
also provided better surveillance and escorts on the convoys
to regulate any illegal activities," Ramachandran said.

The Minister said that action has been initiated for
opening an alternate sea route to Baratang in order to
properly check movement in tribal areas.

He was responding to a series of questions related to
appearance of two different footage of Jarawa tribal women in
the electronic media in January and February this year.

On the basis of the first video footage based on the
report in the `Observer` newspaper of the UK, the A & N
administration had arrested two persons and sent them to
judicial custody.

Whereas, departmental enquiry has been initiated against
a police constable who appeared on the second video telecast
in February and he has been placed under suspension for
dereliction of duty.